Hesitant Decision Makers
My intent for this tip was to write a concise summary on the topic of basic decision making. I quickly realized there is much more to the “basics” than most people realize. This is particularly true if you are having problems getting employees, especially your supervisors, to make decisions in the first place. So rather than offer a quick outline of the basics, I decided to cover this topic in three tips. The first tip will cover the issue of supervisors being hesitant to make a decision. The second related tip will cover the basics of decision making. And the final related tip will cover the topic of critical thinking related to decision making.
Hesitant supervisors often struggle with decision-making due to fear of failure, lack of confidence, or uncertainty about their authority. Since they are already in leadership roles, the key is to shift their mindset from avoiding mistakes to owning their role. If you supervise a hesitant supervisor, here is how you can encourage them to make decisions:
Clarify Their Authority & Expectations: Many supervisors hesitate because they are unsure what they can decide. Ensure they understand their decision-making responsibilities. When do you want them to act independently versus contact you or another supervisor? The reality for them (and you) is that their indecision is often worse than a wrong decision. You can help these supervisors by creating either a verbal or written decision-making guideline which outlines for them what is within their control regarding decisions.
Remove Fear of Mistakes: Supervisors may avoid decisions to prevent blame. Shift the focus to learning. Reinforce that calculated mistakes are okay. Encourage post-decision reviews instead of punishment. Frame mistakes as learning opportunities, not failures.
Hold Them Accountable: If a supervisor avoids decisions, they should feel the impact of that inaction. Let them know that hesitation delays progress and affects other employees. They are responsible for both actions and inactions. Repeated indecision may lead to consequences. Don’t be afraid to ask them directly, “What’s preventing you from making this decision?”
Train Decision-Making Skills: Some supervisors hesitate because they do not know how to make decisions efficiently. Teach them the 80/20 rule:
Define the core objective – What’s the key result you need?
Identify the vital 20% – What are the few most important facts, data, or factors that will impact the decision the most?
Ignore the trivial 80% – Avoid getting stuck on minor details that won’t significantly change the outcome.
Decide and act – Once you have enough key information (usually around 70%), make the decision and adjust if needed. Avoid overanalyzing—waiting for 100% certainty leads to delays.
Reinforce Decisive Behavior: Encourage supervisors who take action—even if the outcome is not perfect. When they make a decision, acknowledge their leadership in making the decision. Provide constructive feedback if needed, but show the positive impact of their choices.
Model Confidence and Urgency: If senior leadership is hesitant, supervisors will mirror that behavior. Show them confidence in your own decisions. Show them that decisive action moves the organization forward. Show them that sometimes, calculated decisiveness is not careless, and sometimes speed matters more than perfection.
TIP: If a supervisor consistently refuses to make decisions, you will begin to ask yourself if they are the right person for that particular supervisory role. Some may just need coaching, while others may need more formal training. And being realistic, some may not be a good fit for a leadership position.